Good morning, friends.

As I sit here this morning, (oh! afternoon, actually)... I've given my girls a break from school. They are off running around in the breezy, sunny outdoors, soaking up the sun and stretching stiff, creaky school-time bodies.

And I am here, enjoying a few moments of quiet before I head into the kitchen to determine what "delicacies" to put on the table for lunch.

But today, today! is the day that I have decided to spill the beans. I have decided it's time to let you in on my secret. My news.

I am happy to share with all of you that I am expecting baby number four at the end of March.

I am blissfully happy to be two weeks into my second trimester, after the most difficult first trimester I have ever experienced.

I can only say that what I went through bordered on what I almost have considered depression. A complete lack of energy. A constant fog. A pile of emotion. A whole lot of exhaustion. A lack of interest in anything. And a constant state of nausea.

But thankfully, as the second trimester approached the fog lifted, and I finally find myself returning to normal.

And while I am being thankful--I could not have made it through that first trimester without my wonderful husband. Who not only worked all day, but became mother and homemaker by night. And when I (often) came to him in tears, drowning in guilt over what I wasn't doing, he simply said, "Your job is to grow a baby and rest. That is all you need to worry about right now."

I've been hesitant to share my news after my experience last fall, and I still find myself somewhat cautious. But as my husband reminds me, "telling people means more people to pray for the health and care of this new baby".

We are happy. The girls are ecstatic. Baby dolls are the new "it" toy around here. Elizabeth tells me she can see the baby in my belly button and "shhhh. he's sleepin'. " And they throw around names like "Texas" and "Susannah".

I think I'll go make some lunch and work on that list of names.....